Bend Water
Make a flowing water stream bend using static electricity from a rubbed plastic comb or balloon; test effects safely with a faucet and dry hair.
About this activity
Make a flowing water stream bend using static electricity from a rubbed plastic comb or balloon; test effects safely with a faucet and dry hair.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick a plastic comb or a balloon.
- 2
Step 2
If you chose a balloon blow it up and tie it closed.
- 3
Step 3
Grab a towel and place it within reach.
- 4
Step 4
Stand next to a sink with a faucet.
- 5
Step 5
Turn the faucet on so a thin steady stream flows about the width of a pencil.
- 6
Step 6
Make sure your hair or the wool cloth is completely dry.
- 7
Step 7
Rub the comb or the balloon briskly on your dry hair or wool cloth for 20 to 30 seconds.
- 8
Step 8
Hold the rubbed comb or balloon a few centimeters from the thin water stream without touching the water.
- 9
Step 9
Slowly move the comb or balloon closer and watch the water bend toward it.
- 10
Step 10
Move the comb or balloon to different sides of the stream to see how the bending changes.
- 11
Step 11
If the bending fades rub the comb or balloon again on your dry hair or cloth for 20 to 30 seconds.
- 12
Step 12
Dry your hands with the towel.
- 13
Step 13
Put the comb or balloon away.
- 14
Step 14
Share a photo or description of your bending water experiment on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you bend a water stream with a comb or balloon?
To bend a stream of water, rub a plastic comb or balloon briskly on dry hair or a wool cloth for 20–30 seconds to build static charge. Turn the faucet to a thin, steady stream and hold the charged comb or balloon a few centimetres away—do not touch the water. The stream will curve toward the charged object. Try changing distance, amount of rubbing, and materials. Always have adult supervision.
What materials do I need to make water bend with static electricity?
You need a plastic comb or a latex balloon, something dry to rub it on (hair, wool, or a dry cloth), and a sink with a faucet that produces a thin steady stream. Have a towel on hand and adult supervision. Optional items: small bits of paper or pepper to show attraction, a non-metallic tray, and different combs or plastics to compare effects. Avoid electronics nearby.
What ages is the static water-bending activity suitable for?
This activity suits children about 5 years and older with adult supervision. Preschoolers (3–5) can enjoy a demonstration and hold the charged object with help, while school-age kids (6–12+) can rub the comb, test variables, and record observations. Ensure children understand not to touch the faucet with charged items and watch for choking hazards with any small props used in variations.
Is this water-bending experiment safe and what are the benefits or variations?
Safety: supervise all steps, keep charged objects away from electronics and metal, dry hands and hair, and avoid latex balloons if there are allergies. Benefits include hands-on learning about static electricity, observation skills, and scientific thinking. Variations: try different plastics, rub with wool or hair, use small paper bits or pepper, test humid vs dry conditions, or compare combs and balloons to see which produces stronger attraction.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a plastic comb or balloon if we can't find one?
If you don't have a plastic comb or balloon, use a plastic ruler, the hard edge of a plastic hairbrush, or rub an inflated latex glove on your dry hair or wool cloth to build static for step 6.
Why isn't the water bending and how can we fix it?
If the water won't bend, check that the faucet is a thin pencil-width stream (step 4), your hair or wool cloth is completely dry (step 5), you rubbed the comb/balloon vigorously for the full 20–30 seconds (step 6), and you hold it a few centimeters away without touching the water (step 8).
How can we adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For preschoolers, have an adult control the faucet and hold the rubbed comb or balloon while the child watches the bending, shortening the rub to 10–15 seconds (steps 4–8); for older kids, let them time the 20–30 second rub, measure how many centimeters the stream bends, and compare comb versus balloon and different fabrics (steps 6, 9).
How can we make the experiment more interesting or personal?
To extend the activity, test and record results using different materials (plastic comb, balloon, wool cloth), vary rubbing time in 5-second increments, photograph the bending to share on DIY.org, and explain why static electricity causes the water to move (steps 1, 6, 13).